Where are you connecting the tow line? I have done this with me, 250lbs, on the boat and my crew, 210lbs, on the board. We were in a steady 20 kts. I tied the line off to the rear cross bar about 6" off center on the leeward side. I know this will interfere with the traveller but it seemed like the best idea.

I tied a lilne between both rear posts, put a loop in the middle, and then attached a full-length ski-rope to the middle.

Did you head into the wind when you deployed your wakeboarder, then fall off and reach to pull him up?

Tell me the specifics!

Thanks,

G

When I did this as a kid with my dad (using a small surf board), we tied off like you and used about 30 feet of rope with a handle on it. When we came about (for the initial take off), I jumped off the Hobie, onto the surfboard, slid to the rear of the board and my dad gradually fell off until the line was taught and he was sure I was moving, then he sheeted in and we took off. I think I was about 130 lbs then. I made it onto my knees and tried getting on my feet, but the wind was not steady and I kept over compensating and falling.

After a day or two, we made straps for the surfboard that were big enough to lock your knees into, and just used the board that way. Lots of fun, but typically, pretty sore legs afterward.

That's a really good idea using a rope off of the aft pylons. I'll have to try that next time (if I can find a brave enough crew member).

I was on Lake Champlain in the late morning so the waves were a foot or less. This probably made it much easier. Afer tying the line onto the boat, the boarder would get into the water and lay on the board. Up until this point I am in irons. I then sailed slowly on a reach (16's perform very well when reaching) until the slack was taken up and I was pulling the boarder. Then you warn the boarder, sheet in and fall off for maximum speed. It was not pretty the first few times. My buddy was a pretty good water skier which helped him compensate for any changes in boat speed. The small waves and the steady strong wind are a must.

You've got to try this - I just crawled home after 8 hours at the beach pulling surfboards around behind my '16. It doesn't even take much wind to get them up - if you can stand on a surfboard (which takes some balance) you can get up behind a '16 pretty easily.

It definiltey turned some heads!

I think that the wakeboard or water skiing really requires more wind because you have to drag them through the water and then up on to a plane whereas a surfboard with a person laying on it has very little drag to begin with.